Not only does the Silent Film Festival give aficionados the opportunity to view rare silent movies from the 1920s, but the restored 35mm prints are presented as they were meant to be seen: in a grand old theater (in this case, the Castro), accompanied by live musicians. This year’s festival—the 15th anniversary—promises another stellar lineup, from The Iron Horse (the silent era’s version of How the West Was Won) to Capra’s The Strong Man and a Shakespeare-inspired production, A Spray of Plum Blossoms, set and filmed in China in the early 1930s. In an era ruled by 3-D and CGI, these gems from the golden age of cinema are a welcome throwback. (July 15–18)
